Apparatus and method for inputting alphabet characters on keypad

Abstract

The invention is to efficiently input characters on a keypad and, more particularly, to input various symbols by using the hiding control processing method, thereby maintaining a simple arrangement of the keypad. Furthermore, the present invention produces simple codes using the relation between characters allocated to the keypad and numerals, implements the short-cut input method using the simple codes, and enters target characters and words or phrases with a small number of strokes using the concurrent input method. With a switching server for interpreting simple codes, the user can input simple codes even when the third server requests words or phrases other than simple codes, and the switching server interprets simple codes input by the user and sends the words or phrases corresponding to the simple codes to the third server, which does not store the simple codes and the words or phrases corresponding to the simple codes.

1 - 33 . (canceled)  
   
   
       34 . A method for recognizing character or “word(s) or phrase(s)” (hereinafter “word or phrases”) which is desired to input, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) receiving series (hereinafter “input value”) of input value from a keypad wherein the keypad is provided with plurality of numeral buttons and one or more characters are associated with a numeral buttons;    (b) interpreting the input value as full code wherein full code is input values of a predetermined full input method in which full code is predefined numeral value for each alphabet character;    (c) checking it is proper the input values is interpreted as full code;    (d) interpreting input values as full code continuously when it is OK by the checking in step (c), and interpreting input values as simple code when it is not OK by checking in step (c) wherein simple code is input values of a predetermined short-cut input method in which simple code is predefined numeral value associated with all or some characters of “word or phrase” therefore index of word or phrase is necessary; and    (e) recognizing “word or phrase” as a result of interpretation of step (d).    
   
   
       35 . The method of claim  1 , in the step (c), interpretation of the input values as simple code is determined by failure of interpretation of input values as full code in the step (b).  
   
   
       36 . The method of claim  1 , in the step (c), interpretation of the input values as simple code is determined by user's selection of a “short-cut/full” transition function.  
   
   
       37 . A method for recognizing character or “word or phrase” which is desired to input, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) receiving input values from a keypad;    (b) interpreting the input value as simple code wherein simple code is input values of a predetermined short-cut input method in which simple code is predefined numeral value associated with all or some characters of “word or phrase” therefore index of word or phrase is necessary;    (c) checking it is proper the input values is interpreted as simple code;    (d) interpreting input values as simple code continuously when it is OK by the checking in step (c), and interpreting the input values as full code when it is not OK by checking in step (c) wherein full code is input values of a predetermined full input method in which full code is predefined numeral value for each alphabet character; and    (e) recognizing “word or phrase” as a result of interpretation of step (d)    
   
   
       38 . The method of claim  4 , in the step (c), interpretation of the input values as full code is determined by failure of interpretation of input values as simple code in the step (b).  
   
   
       39 . The method of claim  4 , in the step (c), interpretation of the input values as full code is determined by user's selection of a “short-cut/full” transition function.  
   
   
       40 . A method for recognizing character or “word or phrase” which is desired to input, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) receiving input values from a keypad;    (b) refering to index which is provided with simple code and “word or phrase”, wherein the simple code is numeral value which is associated with some characters of “word or phrase”;    (c) comparing the input value and simple in the index; and    (d) recognizing the “word or phrase” which is accordance with input value and simple code.    
   
   
       41 . A method for recognizing character or “word or phrase” which is desired to input, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) receiving input values form a keypad;    (b) transmitting input values to a server wherein a server is provided with index of simple code;    (c) comparing input values and simple code in the server; and    (d) recognizing “word or phrase” which is accordance with input value and simple code.    
   
   
       42 . A method for recognizing character or “word or phrase” which is desired to input, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) receiving input values from a keypad;    (b) comparing input values and simple code wherein priority or frequency is stored for a “words or phrases” which has same simple code;    (c) recognizing “words or phrases” which is accordance with input value and simple code;    (d) selecting a “word or phrase” among candidates; and    (e) rearranging the priority when number of selection against predetermined priority exceeds predetermined criteria.